How should I give my stubborn cat a pill?

The simplest thing is what I did: I told my vet that my cat was traumatized (like yours) by trying to get her to ingest the pills, and it wasn't working. The vet's assistant told me, no problem, they also have the antibiotic in liquid form. I was able to return the unused pills for a credit, and they gave me the liquid. It's no picnic either way, but squirting liquid from a dropper was more successful than trying to shove a pill down the poor animal's throat.

You should definitely check with your vet before you try, "giving a half or even a quarter of the pill at a time" because the antibiotic might be unsafe to divide. The more you cut apart a pill, the more it will double the surface area of the pill - which makes it digest very quickly, sometimes even all at once, and that can be unsafe depending on the pill.

If you don't feel like checking with your vet, just stick the pill in peanut butter or, just as my cat likes, in a small cube of cheese. I know my dogs go crazy for cream cheese, but cats don't seem to be as interested. However if all else fails, it's always worth a try! Good luck and I hope Giz gets better soon. (:

Feline Greenies has a brand of treats called "Pill Pockets". Try stuffing the pill in one of those and see if he'll eat the treat.

If the pill can be safely crushed (check with your vet), then try crushing it into some wet food or tuna.

If that doesn't work either, you can also try dissolving it in a little bit of water and using a plastic syringe to squirt it down his throat. (Again, check with a vet to be sure it's safe to dissolve. And don't use a lot of water. Better for it to be a bit lumpy than choking your cat on a lot of water.)

Hey...put the antibiotic in your cats mouth, close it shut, hold it shut with one hand and massage his throat gently with the other hand for a few moments. After massaging his throat, the pill will slide down his throat. There is really no need to gag your cat by shoving things down the back of his throat, this sounds very traumatic to me. I have given very large pills and vitamins to my cats and dog in this manner and it works. Just be persistant and gently stroke the neck while holding the mouth closed. He/she will have to swallow the pill. Hope this helps.

you take the pill and put some butter on it or peanut butter ...

then place it on the TIP of your finger

pry open your cats mouth

and THEN POKE IT DOWN THE THROAT... (LIKE your trying to gag the cat)

and thats' it! easy as pie.

do not just put it in the mouth and hold it closed.. the cat will tast it and spit it out! (antibiotics are bitter tasting) .

the pb makes it stick to your finger and it is a pleasant taste when all is done.

Typical cat. Try giving a half or even a quarter of the pill at a time, then it slides down his neck before he spits it out. Laborious, I know, but it has to be done.

Put the pill in peanut butter and see if he takes it.. OR..scrape peanut butter with the pill in it on the roof of his mouth.. if that doesnt work then go to the Vet and get "Pill Pockets" ..they friggin work GREAT for most cats (and dogs).. but all my critters go crazy for Peanut butter.

You can stroke the throat which encourages them to swallow...

I know they make pill pockets for dogs but i'm not sure if they make them for cats.

It is like a treat then you put the pill in there and they eat it.

While doing this tilt his head back a blow a puff of air in his face. He should swallow.

when we give my cats pills we smash it up and mix it in with wet food. you could try this. just use a knife to break it up.